It's closing in on my daughter's 16th birthday. I'm sure this won't be my only post about her in the coming weeks. As most of you know, her big "soiree" is coming up.....so I have plenty of reminders that my baby isn't a baby anymore.
And the tears start.....
I just caught a glimpse of my beautiful daughter as she was walking into the next room. She's built like a woman now. I hadn't noticed it before, scary. But as much as I'm concerned about how her body has changed, I'm MORE concerned with how her mind is changing. Have I done the things I'm supposed to do to prepare her for life "on the outside?" I'm not great at this little adventure myself, so how the hell am I supposed to lead anyone else through the turmoil and trials and tribulations?!?!?
I'm pretty frank with my kids about what I've gone through in life and the challenges I have created for myself. I'm honest when I tell them that every choice we make will have consequences...good or bad. They see me frustrated and angry at times. My deepest hope is that they also see me digging my way out of my struggles and fighting with everything I have IN me to BE me. I might be a quitter of many things, but I couldn't have quit any of those things if I hadn't started them in the first place.
I pray that my children will never be backed into a corner and made to feel like their insides don't match their outsides. I hope they forge ahead and shove past anyone and anything that tries to hold them back from doing what will make them FEEL successful. I want them to make the world fit them, not the other way around.
All this because Savannah asked me what she should make for dinner.....
You have done well. And all you could during those challenging times. They may You have raised them in the real world which isn't all roses. Being raised that way they are better equipped to deal with LIFE. Every life has challenges. They might. of be as harsh a hand as you were dealt, but they have learned even when you didn't realize you were teaching. They will KNOW you have put up a hell of a fight for yourself and them!
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